Radko Gudas plays hockey on a level somewhere between fiery and hot-headed.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are trying very hard to blur that difference, with some degree of success.

The Pens are clearly baiting the Syracuse Crunch blueliner into infractions of anger. In each of the first two games of the Eastern Conference final, Gudas has been lured into a roughing penalty.

The timing of both was bad, coming in the third periods of close games. The one in Game 1 hit when the Crunch was already on the penalty kill. In Game 2, Gudas lost his cool as the Crunch protected a two-goal lead.

Gudas said Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has been testing the limits of both himself and fellow defenseman J.P. Cote.

"Obviously, I have to keep it down a little bit, help the team,'' said Gudas, who has eight minors in his last five games. "It's just out of a scrum, to protect our goalie or our teammates. It's just reaction. It's playoff hockey. Everything is just up a notch. Everything has more degree in it.''

Syracuse coach Rob Zettler said his players have been primed on the extra importance of keeping their play within the confines of the rule book, especially against a Penguins squad that paces the AHL playoffs on the power play at 25.4 percent.

"We just have to play between the whistles, be smart,'' Zettler said. "He (Gudas) has been there before. He understands it. Sometimes emotions get the better of you. I'd take 20 Radko Gudases on my team. So would every other team in the league.''